Gettysburg Semester 2009 - Richmond Trip, Day Three / Appomattox Court House

On the final day of our Richmond trip, we made our way down to Appomattox Court House. Fortunately, the day was beautiful, and we were able to enjoy the park in the sunshine!

We began in the visitor’s center with a brief ranger talk and orientation video. Afterward, we stood outside the old courthouse and Dr. Guelzo discussed the maneuvers of Lee’s army subsequent to the fall of Petersburg. He explained that chiefly, Lee sought to access the supplies first at Amelia Court House, and, failing that, at Appomattox Court House. However, Sheridan captured those at Appomattox before Lee could arrive – and after realizing that the Union cavalry was supported by infantry units, he surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia. We then made our way to the McLean House to see the room in which Grant and Lee negotiated the surrender. We concluded the morning with a discussion of the parole and final march of the Army of Northern Virginia.

After a very pleasant lunch at a cozy bed and breakfast, we made our way back to Gettysburg. Although we faced more than a few bumps along the way (metaphorically and literally, given the unpaved road we somehow managed to find ourselves on), we made it back over the Mason Dixon line in one piece. After Thanksgiving, on to Washington, D. C.!